This Chapter has been edited from its original. I dont own anything twilight,S.M. does. Enjoy!

Chapter Five - December 2013: Edward

Like shooting stars

How brief we are

And I wish this moment could last forever

Here with you

I am made new

I want to live like every breath matters

Forever With You, by: Decyfer Down

"Alice, can you see anything?" I asked her again.

"No, Edward. I just see her going to the dance and I see her going home. You don't hurt her, enjoy yourself tonight," She told me as she patted my arm.

Enjoy yourself tonight. That was easy for her to say. My life has been completely turned upside down since that cold day last month.

It was the last class before lunch, Biology. I was sitting in my seat completely wrapped up in a riddle Carlisle gave me, when I saw her walk in. Of course I knew there was a new girl, Isabella Swan. I had seen her through others minds all morning. I had heard Carlisle talk about her, because he was the girls' fathers' friend.

I had even seen her in one of Alice's visions.

A vision of her and Alice hanging out, and another of her with red eyes. I pushed it out of my mind when the girl walked in front of a vent.

My world collapsed.

I spent the next hour not breathing, and contemplating ways to murder her. I hated her, and I knew she could tell that.

When the bell rang I was about to stand up and all but run out of the room when she stood up next to me.

"Sorry," She whispered and left the room.

She was joined by Angela at the door and they left in the direction of the cafeteria.

Today I met the one thing that could ruin me. A human with blood that was just about irresistible. I stood there stunned at her comment. What was she sorry about?

I hadn't realized that I even moved from the spot in biology class, but now I was standing by my car with my hand on the door handle. I opened the door and sat down, throwing my books in the seat next to me. Finally letting out a breath.

I closed my eyes and set my head against the steering wheel. I tried hard to clear her sent from my head but the strength lingered in the back of my throat.

I jumped when the passenger door opened. I was so involved with my thoughts that I didn't hear Alice as she made her way to the car, but now she sat there and stared at me.

Edward. She thought and I looked into her mind.

Visions of the Swan girls' house and me stalking her through the shadows were all I could see. It was all the ways I had contemplated on killing her during the most eventful hour of my life. Each vision ended in the same way. Me leaving for an unknown amount of time. I flinched when I saw the vision of Carlisle tell Esme I had left. Our family did not take leaving well.

Edward do you know what she was thinking? Alice asked me.

My mind came to a halt.

I couldn't remember her thinking, but then again I don't remember hearing anyone's thoughts for the last hour. I shook my head no and Alice frowned.

We need to know. She said and tried to see if anything bad happens.

"I can try, Alice. I will stay through lunch just to see if she suspects anything, but then I have to go," As I said it I knew it would happen, me leaving. Alice could see me running home and getting my car then leaving. Although, she could not see where I would go.

"You won't hurt her, I can see that. I will keep an annoyingly close watch on you though if you want me to," Alice told me.

I nodded and we walked back into the cafeteria. The rest of my family looked at me as Alice and I walked into the cafeteria.

They were concerned, but Alice gave them a reassuring smile and they relaxed a bit.

"Who are they?" I heard the girl ask.

Then Jessica Stanley started to give our back history. Well at least the one that we had lead the public to believe. Rosalie and Jasper were siblings, and Esme's God children, and were seniors. Alice, Emmett, and I were Carlisle and Esme's biological children. Alice and I were sophomores and Emmett was a junior.

All this information and the dirty details that the students have come to believe would have been interesting to everyone. Some were even interesting to me. I waited for her to think something, anything. There was nothing.

Edward? Alice asked and I frowned and tried to focus on the girl even more. Nothing was working so I turned my head to stare at her.

Her flawless face was focused on what Jessica was saying. Jessica was done with our story and was now talking about other students and teachers.

From her mind, nothing. My head began to ache and I started to get extremely irritated. I breathed out and inhaled before I realized why I was holding my breath.

The scent of her blood was strong, but the irritation of not hearing her was just as strong.

Then she laughed and my mind went blank. The ache in the back of my throat disappeared and I found myself staring for another reason.

She smiled at something one of the kids and the table said, and I found the corners of my mouth twitch. Why was she affecting me in such a way? I frowned again.

I didn't even realize I was still staring at her until her big brown eyes were locked with mine. She glared at me then got up to follow Jessica to her next class.

I stayed the rest of the day. I was infuriated with her. Who was this girl that had changed so much in two short hours? Why did she have to move hear of all places?

I waited inside of my car for the others. The girl walked across the parking lot to her car and I could not unglue my eyes from her. Her foot caught on invisible things a few times and once she had almost fell face first in the grass. I realized she had been doing this all day. She was exceedingly clumsy for a human. I got a good look at her then.

She was pale, strange because she had moved from Phoenix. Her skin was flawless; I bet to the touch it was soft and smooth. My fingertips started to tingle with want to touch her. I then remembered what would happen if I did touch her. She tripped again and caught herself on her truck. Her face went red and stayed that way until she got in her truck and drove off. I saddened as she left. Just having her around was like a breath of fresh air.

This girl showing up was the first surprise in many years. A surprise? Could Isabella be the girl that would change me like Annie had told me? Annie, I sighed. How could she not be here when something this monumental was happening to me? She had to know that right now I truly needed her. Maybe she knew that I would end up killing her and we would move on. Maybe she wasn't the one. I hated the fact that I had the ability to hurt her so badly. The others got there at that point and I started the car.

"What are you thinking about?" Emmet asked in his cheerful manner.

"Nothing," I told him.

"You are too focused for it to be nothing," He commented.

"Thinking about… the past," I said and I looked at Rose.

She glared at me instantly knowing what in the past I was thinking of. "Don't," She said in a deadly tone and the car got uncomfortably quiet. Rose was sometimes upset about Annie leaving, even still. Every once in a while she would get depressed about it and shut herself off. None of us could explain to Emmet, Jasper, or Alice though.

We pulled up at the house and I looked at Alice. She knew I was going to leave. I went inside to get my keys and got in my car and drove.

To say I was looking for something wouldn't be completely wrong, but after a week in a half of not finding anything, or not finding Annie, I decided to start heading back.

I wanted to go home. I didn't want some human to keep me away from my family. Who was she to make me leave my home?

Now that I look back though I probably should have stayed away for her sanity. The first few days back I decided to talk to her. The small exchanges we had were comfortable. I enjoyed her company.

Once we even sat together at lunch. That was until she came to school with a cut on her forehead. She had informed me that she hit her head on a cupboard and I was reminded how fragile she was.

I decided to stop talking to her altogether. Alice, of course was furious. Complaining that now her visions were everywhere and none of them were making sense.

My plan was working. Bella, as I started to call her in my head, was ignoring me. Some days were harder though. Like when she would come to class and her eyes would be red from crying, or days she would be zoning out and not paying attention. Those days I yearned to know what was going on in her head. Today was going to be really difficult for me, but I saw it as a moving on.

Today Mike Newton was going to ask Bella to the formal Back- to –School Dance. Today she would say yes. Today I would stop my obsession of this infuriating, incredible, and beautiful girl. At least this is what I expected.

What I didn't expect was the extreme jealousy that reared when he walked over to her. I didn't expect myself to laugh when he asked her. I didn't expect it to make me want to ask her.

I sighed as I knew. I loved her.

At lunch I saw Mike in the court yard with Jessica attached to his face. Fury raged inside me. Was he serious? I sat fuming for the rest of the day. Still in unbelief at what I saw. He was just using Bella!

When the final bell rang I ran to catch up with Bella, who was walking to her truck.

"Are you going to the dance with Mike?" I asked her when I caught up to her.

"What is it to you?" She asked me stopping about ten feet from the front of her truck.

"No Reason. I was just wondering because I witnessed Mike kissing Jessica earlier," I told her. I figured she would rather find out now then at the dance.

"No. I am going with someone else," She said and took a few more steps to her car.

"Really?" I said with too much intensity. My emotions were starting to betray me. I looked into her eyes and her breath caught.

"No," She whispered.

I remembered then that earlier I would become her friend. Nothing more. I changed my attitude, feeling a little bit lighter that she didn't have a date.

"Well I could take you if you want to go. As friends, so you don't miss out or anything, I am not big on dances," I said casually, running my hand through my hair.

Her eyes narrowed as she said. "I am not going to the dance," What I would have gave at that moment to know what she was thinking.

I didn't want her to think that I wanted anything more from this so I slipped a paper with my number in her hand. Being extremely careful not to touch her skin.

I leaned in and whispered. "It could be fun, call me when you change your mind," I said a little too intense.

She glared at me then walked to her truck, throwing open the door and driving off.

I watched her throw the little piece of paper on the floor, and her face grew frustrated.

"You know that if she calls you and you two go to the dance together, you have to touch her," Jasper told me.

"And she is going to that dance," Alice said from next to Jasper.

I frowned and turned to Alice. She just smiled and walked off. She was hiding her thoughts from me.

"Alice," I warned. And she laughed.

"Oh, Edward. Don't worry it will be a good night," She told me.

Hours later the night had settled. Charlie had gone to bed and I couldn't hear Bella. That wasn't unusual though. On nights when Charlie had something on his mind, like a fishing trip that was the next day, he was hard to get a read from. I guess that was where Bella got it from. I would love to meet her mother.

There I was getting sidetracked again. I had waited for Charlie to fall asleep before I went to Bella's window. I looked inside and could not see her sleeping form on the bed. I went to the door that lead to the back yard and turned the handle. It was unlocked like it always was. I hated it was always unlocked. I was always afraid that something else would find her.

Yes, I had come here before. Just about every night for the past few weeks. I was pitiful.

I noticed that her bed had not been touched. Her duffel bag was gone as well.

She left? I felt sick.

I turned out of the house and halfway to the surrounding woods when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked at the front and realized that I didn't know the number. Could it be Bella?

"Hello?" I said.

"Hello Edward, its Bella," I couldn't hide the smile that spread across my face at hearing her voice.

"Bella, it's nice to hear from you, does this happen to be about the dance?" I asked her, I felt almost giddy.

"Yes. You see, I already told a friend of mine that I would go with him. So I apologize if I led you to believe I would go with you." As she said that I felt like I hit a brick wall.

"Oh... I… Umm… who is your friend?" I stuttered. I could barely speak. Jealousy sparking immediately.

"Just a friend from Seattle. I just thought I would let you know, that way you could make other plans," Just a friend? What did that mean?

"Oh, thank you."

"Well I will see you at the da… I was going to say dance, but I remember you saying you're not big on dances. So instead I will see you in class after the break," I frowned at her words.

"We don't have to wait that long, if you want we could hang out sometime if you want," I told her hopeful that she would agree.

"I am in Seattle for the break. Sorry, Edward," She really sounded sorry.

"Okay then I will see you after break. Bye Bella," I told her knowing that I would see her sooner.

"Bye Edward," She said.

I looked at my phone as it blinked call ended at me in the dark. I saved her number under Bella and I walked home. I wanted to go to Seattle and find her, but that was not smart.

If I was being smart, I would have asked her to the dance earlier. I would not have ignored her in the beginning.

No, if I was being smart I would have never come back. I would have never put her life in danger.

Why did I come back? I told myself that it was because I refused to let a human run me away from my home. That was not the truth, and now as I stood in the middle of the forest I knew it was because I felt a pull towards this girl. I knew at that point that just being friends would not be enough for me.

And here I was now standing next to Emmett at the school dance. He had his arm around rose who was enjoying the fact she was the most beautiful here. Emmett was thinking of a prank he could play on the student body and Alice and Jasper were dancing to a slow song.

"She is here with Kevin Tony!" I heard a whisper from the other side of the room.

"Oh my god!" Another voice whispered.

The name was faintly familiar. It was the current teenage girl idol. I glanced over to see who was the center of attention to have my jaw drop, well figuratively.

Bella was being walked into the room by the arm of the celebrity. A blush started on her cheeks and spread further down. She had her hair up, parted to the side, in a loose bun with ringlets falling here and there. Her make-up was done craft fully. No severe colors, just highlights of colors to accentuate certain areas.

Her bare shoulders and neck were begging to be touched. The strapless dark blue dress made her skin look even paler. The dress was simple and flowing, showing off curves that I didn't know where there.

She and her date were making their way over the drink table, over to us. Emmet, unaware of what was going on took Rose out to the dance floor. I was alone.

Bella's date started talking to a student as Bella came up the drink table.

"Hello Edward. I didn't expect to see you here," She told me as she got a cup of punch.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Bella," Was all that would come out.

She smiled at me. "You look rather handsome yourself. Do you know how many girls in here can't keep their eyes off you?"

"Not anywhere as close as the number of guys that are fixated on you. Plus I am only concerned about one set of eyes tonight," I told her.

"Oh really," She said as she made her way next to me. "Who is this lucky girl?"

"Take a walk with me Bella, Please?" I asked her.

"Sure, let me tell my date," She said as she threw her cup away then walked towards the dance floor.

I watched as she tapped his shoulder. He leaned down and she whispered into his ear. Jealousy started to boil in me. He put his hand on her lower back and I knew that if I could I would tear it off. He whispered in her ear and she giggled. She kissed him on the cheek then turned toward me. The intimacy of their exchange told me that they were more than friends. I tried to hear what he was thinking but I could get nothing but lyrics and beats. For a second I admired his dedication to music, but was completely caught up in something else when Bella was at my side.

"Where to?" she asked as she held out her arm.

I stared apprehensively at her arm. Not unwillingly to take it but unsure of what she would think.

It's okay. I heard Alice sing and I smiled. I took her arm and noticed how she relaxed.

"You never did tell me about this girl," She said, not really asking anything. I was silent so she continued. "Do I know her?" She asked as she looked up at me.

"I would say so," I told her with a smile. "Your date isn't going to get upset with you being out here is he?" I asked her.

"No. Kev is more of a big brother. I promised him that he could take me to my first high school dance," She said and then she shivered.

I let go of her to take off my coat and give it to her. When I removed my arm from hers she whimpered, and my heart just about broke.

When she saw that I was giving her my jacket she smiled a brilliant smile and looked up at me. "You know if you like a girl here giving me your jacket won't make her very happy."

I wrapped my arm back in hers. "I have a confession to make to you Bella."

She just looked at me. "The girl I like is wearing my jacket."

"I know, I just wanted you to say it," She said with a smile.

I laughed and stopped to face her. "You really do look beautiful tonight Bella."

"Are you mentally ill?" She asked catching me off guard.

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

"You have had some serious mood swings since I've known you, are you always like this?" she asked.

I thought for a second. "No, I want to be your friend. It is just safer for me not to be."

"What do you mean?" She returned my question.

I sighed. "I am a dangerous person. I am not a good friend, and when I realized that I liked you more than just a friend I knew I had to stay away from you," I told her.

"Are you going to start ignoring me again?" She asked, getting frustrated.

"No, I realized that I can't stay away from you. I wanted to be your friend, or more if that what you wanted."

"Why?" I was starting to get frustrated, why couldn't she just accept it.

"Because you are intriguing, and beautiful, and smart," I told her I was ready to list off more but she stopped me.

"What happens when you know everything and I am boring, are you going to leave then?" she asked. Her brown eyes were a little hurt. I never realized what my ignoring her did to her.

"No. I won't ever find you boring; I won't ever ignore you again." I told her with as much intensity as I could muster.

"How do I know you are telling the truth?" she asked.

I ran my hand through my hair. "Because I…" I started but couldn't finish. I let a breath and breathed in deep, her sent burning my throat. I grabbed her face between my hands and stared at her. "Bella, I really like you. I am not going to leave because I can't stand being away from you."

Bella leaned towards me and raised herself onto her toes. Her lips were so close to mine and I froze.

I was starting to panic.

The burn in my throat was intensifying, and my eyes fluttered to the skin of her throat.

She stopped just millimeters from my lips, warmth was coming off her like the sun. I was sure that if we kissed I would burn up like the vampires did in the movies.

After only a few seconds of staying there she moved her lips to me ear.

She breathed through her nose and the warm air tingled my ear lobe. My mind clouded over with a feeling that I did not know.

"What if I didn't show up tonight?" she whispered and it was my turn to shudder.

My hands dropped as she pulled away. She stood there smirking at me in a strange way.

Answer her, my mind told me.

"I…uh… I." I had to stop to think. "I probably would have talked to you Monday?" I said it so it sounded like a question.

She giggled, then looked at me seriously.

"You are not like any other boy I have ever met Edward Cullen. Unlike any human either," She said.

Does she know I am not human? No, she can't. She is far too comfortable around me though. Some humans just don't have a 'this is dangerous' sense.

"You must not have met that many humans." I told her in a joking tone.

She stared at my face. "What are you?"

My brain stuttered. "Just a teenager at a high school dance. What are you?"

I tried to act casually, but truth be told I was wound tight.

"Just a confused but smitten girl." She told me and I smiled.

She was smitten? With me? My smile grew broader.

Her date, Kevin, walked out at that point.

"Bella Ballerina! There you are. The clock nears twelve and soon I will be a mouse and my car a simple pumpkin. And the teachers are making the students go home," He told her, then started his way to his car.

"Okay, well Edward. Thank you for the walk, even though time got away from us."

"Thank you for walking with me," I told her, wanting to pick her up and carry her away so she would never have to leave my side.

"Call or text me if you want," She said and removed my jacket.

We stood there for a few awkward seconds before she gave me a quick hug, and handed me my jacket.

"I can't wait till classes start again, goodnight Edward," She told me and left.

I loved her, but I didn't think now was the time for her to know that.